I was inspecting an Ektar 127mm lens recently, thinking of replacing my 127mm Optar. On close inspection, the Ektar had several bubbles in the glass. Is this common for Ektars or is it a fluke? I'm surprised a lens with bubbles would make it through quality control.

small bubbles in glass in common, some people believe it's a sign of better glass, since the bubbles are formed by mixing more than one type of glass in a molten state. If the bubbles are spherical, there is no problem.

I have a lens made about 1840 that show distorted bubbles, which are a sign of striation (incomplete mix of the glass types) This leads to image degredation

My 1947 Ektar 127mm lens has me stumped. Where can I get a 38mm polarizer for my series 6 filter adapter? B+H does not seem to carry this or any series 6 filters. Is there any field-expedient solution out there?

Dear Brush,
I'm not sure what size Series VI slip-ring fits a 127 Ektar (is it the 38mm you mentioned?), but if you already have the slip-ring then you're half-way there. The thread in your Series VI slip-ring is 44mm. Obtain a 44-49 step-ring (or 44-52, 44-55 etc.) and you can use a 49mm (52, 55, etc.) polarizer directly on this adapter set-up. Or look for a Series VI polarizer---I found a mint Spiralite recently at a camera show---it will already have the 44mm thread and will screw right into the Series VI directly. Caution: older polarizers seem to develop permanent fog spots in the glass, so make sure any used polarizer is really clean! In general, camera shows are the best places to look for all this sort of discontinued stuff. Since you're in northwest Jersey there are camera shows several times a year, in the Delaware Valley-Philadelphia area, also in the metro NYC area.
Check Shutterbug magazine for listings.
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